text:
I have been a member of The Quilters' Guild for many years. I have served on Regional committees, first as Secretary with Region 3B and then as YQ rep when Region 3B was renamed Region 5. I re-joined Region 5 committee after a few years off and was a committee member once again and helped with general fundraising. I am now living in Region 14.
I have recently retired as Membership Secretary of The British Quilt Study Group and The Guild's Festival of Quilts Officer. I am now responsible for marketing the journal Quilt Studies.
I teach patchwork techniques at my local quilt shop, The Quilt Cabin, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
Techniques ranging from English Paper Piecing, Cathedral Window Patchwork and Foundation Piecing are all popular with my students.
I am happy to be asked to run workshops within the West Yorkshire area so please get in touch for more details.


text:
It's officially fall. Mornings are brisk, sunsets are early, and much of the landscape on the High Line has taken on an airier, golden brown look as its grasses go to seed. Remembering, of course, that brown is also a color, there's a lot to look for in this new fall landscape.
In his plans for the High Line, planting designer Piet Oudolf wanted to present a diverse spectrum of colors, textures, and bloom time, echoing the complex landscape that grew up on the High Line after the trains stopped running.
This means that even as the days grow shorter, it's showtime for many of the High Line's species of grasses and perennials -- in fact, forty-two of the High Line's 210 species are October bloomers. We've created a list, broken down by area of the High Line. [PDF]
And for the serious horticulture enthusiast, here's a list of every species on Section 1. [PDF]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Only God Forgives
We all know someone who, try as he might, just cannot tell a decent story. Oftentimes, the anecdote in question is hardly worth relaying a simplistic, meaningless memory about bumping into someone from high school on the way to work or finding a five dollar bill at the laundromat. Or, in the case of Only God Forgives, meandering around Thailand on the hunt for one's brother's killer. And while these anticlimatic accounts might be relatively painless if delivered in a quick, effortless manner, this friend opts instead to hone in on every detail, recalling with an excruciating vividness that insists upon your painstaking focus, forcing each and every conceivable facet down your throat with a boorish, exhausting aggression. And also, there's a whole lot of blood.
For 90 minutes (that feel well over two hours), director Nicolas Winding Refn delivers some hybrid of a fluid story and a static idea: after his older brother (Luke Evans), a perverse delinquent, is taken down by a self-righteous police lieutenant (Vithaya Pansringarm), three-legged coyote Julian (Ryan Gosling) sets aside his life, ethics, and free will to heed his saber-toothed mother's (Kristin Scott Thomas) call to arms against the lawman. The story begins and ends there: the characters remain as they are upon introduction, with the only flow of action being Julian's lukewarm pursuit of Chang (Pansringarm) and vice versa.
Without much in operation above or below sea level in the realm of plot, Only God Forgives relies entirely on style, to a vicious fault. The dark aesthetics of Refn's weeping Bangkok and the hellfire melodies that carry forth the scenes are standalone dynamite, but make such an imposition as to deny you any emotional access to the movie or its characters. If you manage to break through, there are still obstacles Thomas plays her demonic Lady Macbeth up to 11 and then some, the script never allowing for the flavors of mystery or brevity to strengthen her character. Instead, Thomas' Crystal takes every line, action, and motive a few steps too far, shirking any hint of "interesting" in the process.
In contrast, we have Gosling, who does next to nothing as the reactionary guppy swimming through Refn's sea of acid rain. Without much of a character to build, Gosling doesn't have too great an opportunity to let his actions do the talking in Only God Forgives, instead coming across as a moreover hollow audience surrogate, taking in this aesthetically mesmerizing world through Refn's weird lens.
There are enough times in Only God Forgives that color and character promise to keep the film from leveling out as the sort of painful non-story your loudmouthed friend is wont to anchor you down to agony with. Refn's visual style, while often graphically hard to watch and sometimes jarringly obvious, is a sight to behold. But there's never a true delivery, we never feel entirely vindicated by Julian's journey or our own immersion into this unpleasant universe. What is the story for, if not to cart a handful of bleak elements and images into our conscious to mull over? Is that enough to make a complete movie, or do the stylistic parts need to equate to something of substance?


text:
WikipediaRead full entry
Achillea millefolium
Achillea millefolium, known commonly as yarrow /ˈjæroʊ/ or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Asia, Europe, and North America.[1] In New Mexico and southern Colorado, it is called plumajillo (Spanish for 'little feather') from its leaf shape and texture. In antiquity, yarrow was known as herbal militaris, for its use in staunching the flow of blood from wounds.[2] Other common names for this species include gordaldo, nosebleed plant, old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, thousand-leaf, and thousand-seal.[3]
Achillea millefolium is an erect herbaceous perennial plant that produces one to several stems 0.2–1 metre (0.66–3.28 ft) in height, and has a spreading rhizomatous growth form. Leaves are evenly distributed along the stem, with the leaves near the middle and bottom of the stem being the largest. The leaves have varying degrees of hairiness (pubescence). The leaves are 5–20 cm long, bipinnate or tripinnate, almost feathery, and arranged spirally on the stems. The leaves are cauline, and more or less clasping.[3]
The inflorescence has 4 to 9 phyllaries and contains ray and disk flowers which are white to pink. The generally 3 to 8 ray flowers are ovate to round. Disk flowers range from 15 to 40. The inflorescence is produced in a flat-topped cluster. The fruits are small achenes.[3]
The plant has a strong, sweet scent, similar to chrysanthemums.[1]
Yarrow grows from sea level to 3,500 metres (11,500 ft) in elevation. The plant commonly flowers from May through June. Common yarrow is frequently found in the mildly disturbed soil of grasslands and open forests. Active growth occurs in the spring.[1][3]
In North America, both native and introduced genotypes, and both diploid and polyploid plants are found.[4] It is found in every habitat throughout California except the Colorado and Mojave Deserts.[5][6] common yarrow produces an average yield of 43,000 plants per acre, with a total dry weight of 10,500 lbs.[7]
The several varieties and subspecies include:
- Achillea millefolium subsp. millefolium
- A. m. subsp. m. var. millefolium - Europe, Asia
- A. m. subsp. m. var. borealis - Arctic regions
- A. m. subsp. m. var. rubra - Southern Appalachians
- A. millefolium subsp. chitralensis - western Himalaya
- A. millefolium subsp. sudetica - Alps, Carpathians
- Achillea millefolium var. alpicola — Western United States, Alaska[8]
- Achillea millefolium var. californica — California, Pacific Northwest[9][10][11]
- Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis — North America[12]
- Achillea millefolium var. pacifica — west coast of North America, Alaska[13]
- Achillea millefolium var. puberula — endemic to California[14]
Achillea millefolium is cultivated as an ornamental plant by many plant nurseries. It is planted in gardens and natural landscaping settings of diverse climates and styles. They include native plant, drought-tolerant, and wildlife gardens. The plant is a frequent component of butterfly gardens. The plant prefers well-drained soil in full sun, but can be grown in less ideal conditions.[15][16][17]
For propagation, seeds require light for germination, so optimal germination occurs when planted no deeper than one-quarter inch (6 mm). Seeds also require a germination temperature of 18-24° (64-75 °F). It has a relatively short life in some situations, but may be prolonged by division in the spring every other year, and planting 12–18 in (30–46 cm) apart. It can become invasive.[18]
The species use in traditional gardens has generally been superseded by cultivars with specific 'improved' qualities.[19] Some are used as drought tolerant lawn replacements, with periodic mowing.[20] The many different ornamental cultivars include: 'Paprika',[21] 'Cerise Queen', 'Red Beauty',[22] 'Red Velvet',[23] 'Saucy Seduction', 'Strawberry Seduction' (red), 'Island Pink' (pink),[24] and 'Calistoga' (white),[25] and 'Sonoma Coast' (white).[26] Several, including 'Kelwayi',[27] and 'Lansdorferglut' (both pink)[28] have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The many hybrids of this species designated Achillea x taygetea are useful garden subjects,[29] including: 'Appleblossom', 'Fanal', 'Hoffnung', and 'Moonshine'.[30]
Companion planting[edit]
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, is considered an especially useful companion plant, repelling some insect pests while attracting good, predatory ones. It attracts predatory wasps, which drink the nectar and then use insect pests as food for their larvae. Similarly, it attracts ladybirds and hoverflies.[17]
Achillea millefolium can be planted to combat soil erosion due to the plant's resistance to drought. Before the arrival of monocultures of ryegrass, both grass leys and permanent pasture always contained A. millefolium at a rate of about 0.3 kg/ha. At least one of the reasons for its inclusion in grass mixtures was its deep roots, with leaves rich in minerals. Thus its inclusion helped to prevent mineral deficiencies in the ruminants to which it was fed.
Herbal and traditional uses[edit]
The herb is purported to be a diaphoretic, astringent,[31] tonic,[31] stimulant and mild aromatic. It contains isovaleric acid, salicylic acid, asparagin, sterols, flavonoids, bitters, tannins, and coumarins. The plant also has a long history as a powerful 'healing herb' used topically for wounds, cuts and abrasions. The genus name Achillea is derived from mythical Greek character, Achilles,[31] who reportedly carried it with his army to treat battle wounds. This medicinal action is also reflected in some of the common names mentioned below, such as staunchweed and soldier's woundwort.[1]
The stalks are dried and used as a randomising agent in I Ching divination.[32]
In the Middle Ages, yarrow was part of a herbal mixture known as gruit used in the flavouring of beer prior to the use of hops.[citation needed] The flowers and leaves are used in making some liquors and bitters.[1]
Traditional names for A. millefolium include arrowroot, bad man's plaything, bloodwort, carpenter's weed, death flower, devil's nettle, eerie, field hops, gearwe, hundred leaved grass, knight's milefoil, knyghten, milefolium, milfoil, millefoil, noble yarrow, nosebleed, old man's mustard, old man's pepper, sanguinary, seven year's love, snake's grass, soldier, soldier's woundwort, stanchweed, thousand seal, woundwort, yarroway, yerw. The English name yarrow comes from the Saxon (Old English) word gearwe, which is related to both the Dutch word gerw and the Old High German word garawa.[33]
Yarrow has also been used as a food, and was very popular as a vegetable in the 17th century. The younger leaves are said to be a pleasant leaf vegetable when cooked like spinach, or in a soup. Yarrow is sweet with a slight bitter taste. The leaves can also be dried and used as a herb in cooking.
A. millefolium has seen historical use as a medicine, often because of its astringent effects.[1]
The dark blue essential oil, extracted by steam distillation of the flowers, is generally used as an anti-inflammatory[34] or in chest rubs for colds and influenza.[35]
The leaves encourage clotting, so it can be used fresh for nosebleeds.[36] The aerial parts of the plant are used for phlegm conditions, as a bitter digestive tonic to encourage bile flow, and as a diuretic.[37] The aerial parts act as a tonic for the blood, stimulate the circulation, and can be used for high blood pressure; it is also useful in menstrual disorders, and as an effective sweating remedy to bring down fevers.[1]
Yarrow intensifies the medicinal action of other herbs taken with it.[38] It is reported[39] to be associated with the treatment of the following ailments:
Pain,[40] antiphlogistic,[41][42] bleeding, gastrointestinal disorders,[41] choleretic[43] inflammation,[44] emmenagogue,[45] stomachache.[46]
Chinese proverbs claim yarrow brightens the eyes and promotes intelligence. Yarrow and tortoiseshell are considered to be lucky in Chinese tradition.[47]
In classical Greece, Homer tells of the centaur Chiron, who conveyed herbal secrets to his human pupils, and taught Achilles to use yarrow on the battle grounds of Troy.[48]
Native American uses[edit]
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium and its North American varieties, was used in traditional Native American herbal medicine by tribes across the continent.[49] The Navajo considered it to be a "life medicine", chewed it for toothaches, and poured an infusion into ears for earaches. The Miwok in California used the plant as an analgesic and head cold remedy.[49]
Several tribes of the Plains Indians used common yarrow. The Pawnee used the stalk for pain relief. The Chippewa used the leaves for headaches by inhaling it in a steam. They also chewed the roots and applied the saliva to their appendages as a stimulant. The Cherokee drank a tea of common yarrow to reduce fever and aid in restful sleep.[49]
Among the Zuni people use the occidentalis variety medicinally. The blossoms and root are chewed, and the juice applied before fire-walking or fire-eating. A poultice of the pulverized plant is mixed with water and applied to burns.[50] Recently it was reported that treatment with Achillea millefolium may attenuate disease severity, inflammatory responses, and demyelinating lesions in a mouse model of Multiple Sclerosis.[51]
In rare cases, yarrow can cause severe allergic skin rashes; prolonged use can increase the skin's photosensitivity.[52] This can be triggered initially when wet skin comes into contact with cut grass and yarrow together.
In one study, aqueous extracts of yarrow impaired the sperm production of laboratory rats.[53]
Several cavity-nesting birds, including the common starling, use yarrow to line their nests. Experiments conducted on the tree swallow, which does not use yarrow, suggest that adding yarrow to nests inhibits the growth of parasites.[54]
Its essential oil kills the larvae of the mosquito Aedes albopictus.[55]
Similar plants[edit]
- Similar species
Other Achillea species have similar foliage and flowers, including: Achillea ageratifolia and Achillea nobilis.
- Similar genera
Other plants with white flowers in large compound umbels may be confused with Achillea millefolium, these include: water parsnip—Sium suave (swamp parsnip); western water hemlock—Cicuta douglasii (poison hemlock); and spotted water hemlock—Cicuta maculata (spotted parsley, spotted cowbane). Water parsnip and water hemlock have clusters of small white flowers that are shaped like umbrellas, and both grow in moist soils. Water parsnip leaves are once compound, and water hemlock leaves are three times compound. Water hemlock has a large swelling at the stem base. All parts of water hemlock are highly poisonous.[56]
Illustration in Koehlers Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen und kurz erläuterndem Texte (Franz Eugen Köhler; 1883–1914). Achillea millefolium at BioTrek, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Field of Yarrow in Russia.
See also[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g Gualtiero Simonetti (1990). Stanley Schuler, ed. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices. Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN 0-671-73489-X.
- ^ Dodson & Dunmire, 2007, Mountain Wildfowers of the Southern Rockies, UNM Press, ISBN 978-0-8263-4244-7
- ^ a b c d Achillea millefolium in Flora of North America @ efloras.org . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Alan S. Weakley (April 2008). "Flora of the Carolinas, Virginia, and Georgia, and Surrounding Areas".
- ^ Jepson Manual treatment for ACHILLEA millefolium . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Calflora database: Achillea millefolium . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ A Grower's Guide_Yarrow_Achillea millefolium
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Achillea millefolium var. alpicola (common yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Profile for Achillea millefolium var. californica (California yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Tropicos: Achillea millefolium var. californica . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Bert Wilson (29 July 2012). "Las Pilitas Nursery horticultural treatment: ''Achillea millefolium'' var. ''californica''". Laspilitas.com. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Achillea millefolium var. occidentalis (western yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Achillea millefolium var. pacifica (Pacific yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ USDA Plants Profile for Achillea millefolium var. puberula . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Missouri Botanical Garden horticultural treatment: Achillea millefolium . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Fine Gardening magazine Plant Guide — Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ a b Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database: Achillea millefolium (common yarrow) . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ USDA, NRCS. 2006. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 22 May 2006). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.[1]
- ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1-4053-3296-4.
- ^ San Marcos Growers horticulture — The Yarrow Lawn . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ "Missouri Botanical Garden horticultural treatment: ''Achillea millefolium'' 'Paprika'". Missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "Missouri Botanical Garden horticultural treatment: ''Achillea millefolium'' 'Red Beauty'". Missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ RHS: Achillea millefolium 'Red Velvet'
- ^ Bert Wilson (8 January 2012). "Las Pilitas Nursery: ''Achillea millefolium rosea'' Island Pink (Pink Yarrow)". Laspilitas.com. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "California Natives Wiki: ''Achillea millefolium'' 'Calistoga'". Theodorepayne.org. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "California Natives Wiki: ''Achillea millefolium'' 'Sonoma Coast'". Theodorepayne.org. 19 August 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector Achillea millefolium 'Kelwayi' / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ "RHS Plant Selector Achillea millefolium 'Lansdorferglut' AGM / RHS Gardening". Apps.rhs.org.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Clausen, Ruth Rogers; Ekstrom, Nicolas H. (1989). Perennials for American gardens. New York: Random House. p. 4. ISBN 0-394-55740-9.
- ^ Monrovia Growers: Achillea x 'Moonshine' — Moonshine Yarrow.
- ^ a b c Alma R. Hutchens (1973). Indian Herbology of North America. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 0-87773-639-1.
- ^ "Introduction to the I Ching - By Richard Wilhelm". Iging.com. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Oxford English Dictionary. 2nd ed. Yarrow.
- ^ Inhibitory effect of lactone fractions and individual components from three species of the Achillea millefolium complex of Bulgarian origin on the human neutrophils respiratory burst activity Choudhary M.I., Jalil S., Todorova M., Trendafilova A., Mikhova B., Duddeck H. Natural Product Research 2007 21:11 (1032–1036)
- ^ Teresa Skwarek (1979). "Effects of Herbal Preparations on the propagation of influenza viruses". Acta Polon Pharm. XXXVI (5): 1–7.
- ^ "The Southwest School of Botanical Medicine. ''Specific Indications in Clinical Practice.''". Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Combining Western Herbs and Chinese Medicine (book), 2003, "Achillea", P. 165–181. Jeremy Ross. ISBN 978-0-9728193-0-5.
- ^ Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Kowalchik C & Hylton WH, Eds, "Companion Planting", P.108. ISBN 978-0-87596-964-0.
- ^ Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs, Kowalchik C & Hylton WH, Eds, P.293, 367, 518. ISBN 978-0-87596-964-0
- ^ Analgesic Effect of aqueous extract of Achillea millefolium L. on rat's formalin test Noureddini M., Rasta V.-R. Pharmacologyonline 2008 3 (659-664)
- ^ a b Benedek, Birgit; Kopp, Brigitte (2007). "Achillea millefolium L. S.l. Revisited: Recent findings confirm the traditional use". Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift 157 (13–14): 312–314. doi:10.1007/s10354-007-0431-9. PMID 17704978.
- ^ Aqueous extract of Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) inflorescences suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in RAW 264.7 murine macrophages Burk D.R., Cichacz Z.A., Daskalova S.M. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 2010 4:3 (225-234)
- ^ Choleretic effects of yarrow (Achillea millefolium s.l.) in the isolated perfused rat liver Benedek B., Geisz N., Jäger W., Thalhammer T., Kopp B. Phytomedicine 2006 13:9-10 (702-706)
- ^ Effects of two Achillea species tinctures on experimental acute inflammation Popovici M., Pârvu A.E., Oniga I., Toiu A., Tǎmaş M., Benedec D. Farmacia 2008 56:1 (15-23)
- ^ In vitro estrogenic activity of Achillea millefolium L. Innocenti G., Vegeto E., Dall'Acqua S., Ciana P., Giorgetti M., Agradi E., Sozzi A., Fico G., Tomè F. Phytomedicine 2007 14:2-3 (147-152)
- ^ Antiulcerogenic activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium L.: Involvement of the antioxidant system Potrich F.B., Allemand A., da Silva L.M., dos Santos A.C., Baggio C.H., Freitas C.S., Mendes D.A.G.B., Andre E., de Paula Werner M.F., Marques M.C.A. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2010 130:1 (85-92)
- ^ "Chinese Superstitions". Chinatownconnection.com. Retrieved 19 May 2013.
- ^ Homer. Iliad. pp. 11.828–832.
- ^ a b c University of Michigan - Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany; Achillea millefolium . accessed 1.31.2013
- ^ Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 (p. 42)
- ^ Vazirinejad R, Ayoobi F, Arababadi MK, Eftekharian MM, Darekordi A, Goudarzvand M, et al. Effect of aqueous extract of Achillea millefolium on the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice. Indian J Pharmacol 2014;46:303‑8.
- ^ Contact Dermatitis 1998, 39:271-272.
- ^ Dalsenter P, Cavalcanti A, Andrade A, Araújo S, Marques M (2004). "Reproductive evaluation of aqueous crude extract of Achillea millefolium L. (Asteraceae) in Wistar rats". Reprod Toxicol 18 (6): 819–23. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2004.04.011. PMID 15279880.
- ^ Shutler D, Campbell AA (2007). "Experimental addition of greenery reduces flea loads in nests of a non-greenery using species, the tree swallow Tachycineta bicolor". Journal of Avian Biology 38 (1): 7–12. doi:10.1111/j.2007.0908-8857.04015.x.
- ^ Essential oil composition and larvicidal activity of six Mediterranean aromatic plants against the mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Conti B., Canale A., Bertoli A., Gozzini F., Pistelli L. Parasitology Research 2010 107:6 (1455–1461)
- ^ "Cicuta maculata".
Further reading[edit]
- Blanchan, Neltje (2005). Wild Flowers Worth Knowing. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Wood, John (2006). Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.
- Hickman, James C., ed. (1993). The Jepson Manual: Higher plants of California. Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press.


text:
About the Patricia Seybold Group
Trusted Advisors to Customer-Centric Executives
Our Mission: To make it easier for your customers to get things done!
Customer-centric executives rely on the Patricia Seybold Group to help their organizations deliver great customer experiences and to co-design new, or improved, products and services with customers. Our seasoned consultants provide advice, consulting, publications, and training that reflect our practical experience and our visionary insights.
We'll help you:
- Better understand your customers and their requirements
- Design new or improved products, services, and experiences to meet customers' unmet needs
- Present your products and services so that customers can make quick buying decisions
- Let your customers serve themselves
- Grow the number of profitable customers you attract and retain
- Align your stakeholders around customers' issues, success metrics, and outcomes
- Select the appropriate tools and technologies to support your business objectives
- Evolve your business processes and systems to be more customer-adaptive
Products and Services
Along with consulting services that are custom-tailored for clients, we offer:
Customer Advisory Board Services:
Customer advisory boards and customer councils that customers LOVE to participate in. They learn from each other at the same time that they're working with your top execs and your subject matter experts to co-design your company's next gen products and services.
Consulting Services:
We provide consulting services customized for our clients.
Licensed Customer Co-Design Methodology:
Unlike most consulting firms, we train, certify, and license our clients in the use of our methodologies.
Subscription-based Advisory Services:
Members-only advisory services provide weekly emails, access to our premium articles, and interaction with our Senior Consultants/Analysts.
Articles, Books, and Blogs:
In-depth articles for customer-centric executives are published weekly, providing insightful analysis, best practices, case studies, and profiles of key technologies. We publish thought-leading books every few years, such as Outside Innovation, Customers.com, and The Customer Revolution.
Our team members also produce three blogs that complement the member-fed Forum on this site. They are: Outside Innovation, Total CX, and Customers.com Technologies.


text:
A company newsletter is a great way to deliver content to your community and share exciting news. Our experts share their insight on how to fine-tune your email newsletter to get more people signing up, and more people reading it.
Q How can I improve the "open" rates of my email newsletter? Are there tricks for subject lines?
A First, don't rule out the possibility that it might not be just the subject line that's tripping you up. There are other factors — timing, list fatigue, your mail is getting caught in a spam filter, your list is crappy and the biggest one of all — your content isn't compelling. That said, subject lines are really important. People like offers, but in my experience if the subject line is too "sales-y," the open rates drop. Every audience is different so you will have to do some A/B testing on subject lines to figure out what works for your audience. There are loads of people writing about this stuff that you can learn from. My favourite is copyblogger.com.
— April Dunford, product marketing expert
Q How can I increase sign-ups to my email newsletter?
A Test different things: a pop-up module window with a call to action; change the location of the opt-in on the page; offer some value-added content with a default opt-in to the newsletter; try different copy for your call to action; write content that's more qualified for your ideal visitor; try a different layout, button colors, etc. You never know what will work best but eventually you'll get there.
— Dan Martell, founder of Clarity.fm
Q What are the common characteristics of the email newsletters that have the biggest distribution?
A Those that have the biggest distribution are generally those who have the largest companies behind them, separate from the newsletter. For straight-up newsletters, companies like Photojojo and daily journalism pubs seem to be leaders. I'd say content that people desire makes for great distribution. Take Seth's Blog for example. He's really a model of content you can chomp up in a minute that makes for desirable dissemination.
— Gary Levitt, founder of MadMimi.com


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States and Cuba resumed immigration talks in Washington on Wednesday after a two-year hiatus and U.S. officials said they had again pressed for the release of jailed American contractor Alan Gross.
The last migration roundtable between the United States and Cuba was in January 2011 when officials met in Havana.
The talks were led by Alex Lee, acting U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs, and Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, Cuba's foreign ministry director general for U.S. affairs.
The State Department said the U.S. delegation reiterated a call for the release of Gross, who is serving a 15-year sentence in Cuba for installing Internet networks for Cuban Jews as part of a U.S. program that Cuba considers subversive.
Gross' arrest in late 2009 and sentencing in March 2011 halted a brief thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations after Obama took office in January 2009.
The department said Lee made it clear that Gross was "trying to facilitate communications between Cuba's citizens and the rest of the world."
The sides also discussed the application of U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords, which seek to promote safe, legal and orderly migrations between the two countries.
Over the past half century, thousands of Cubans have died trying to cross the treacherous Florida Straits in flimsy boats and homemade rafts.
The United States accepts about 200,000 Cubans annually via legal immigration and also takes in those who manage to reach U.S. shores. But under the "wet foot, dry foot policy" it turns back Cubans picked up at sea.
In a statement, the Cuban delegation said the meeting had taken place in a "climate of respect" but noted that legal, safe and orderly migration could not be achieved as long as the "wet foot, dry foot" policy remained in place.
The meeting comes as the United States and Cuba explore the possibility of resuming direct mail services, which U.S. diplomats insist does not mean a change in American policy toward Cuba.
Earlier, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States would not raise during Wednesday's meeting the issue of a North Korean ship caught in Panama last week smuggling arms from Cuba in contravention of U.N. sanctions.
She said, however, that Washington would talk to Cuba "very soon" about the ship.
Panama stopped the ship and seized the cargo, which included missile equipment and arms on board that Cuba said were obsolete Soviet-era weapons being send to North Korea for repair.
(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Xavier Briand)


text:
The descriptions below may help you identify your dental network. If not, log in to MyBenefits to find a dentist.
Not enrolled yet? You may want to ask your employer or benefits administrator which network to choose. If you are from a Federal or State Marketplace, please select PDP Plus or Dental HMO/Managed Care depending on the plan.
Group dental insurance policies featuring the MetLife Preferred Dentist Program are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166.
Dental Managed Care Plan benefits are provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation in NY. Dental HMO plan benefits are provided by: SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc., a California corporation in CA; SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc., a Florida corporation in FL; SafeGuard Health Plans, Inc., a Texas corporation in TX; and MetLife Health Plans, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, a New York corporation in NJ. The Dental HMO/Managed Care companies are part of the MetLife family of companies. "DHMO" is used to refer to product designs that may differ by state of residence of the enrollee, including but not limited to: "Specialized Health Care Service Plans" in California; "Prepaid Limited Health Service Organizations" as described in Chapter 636 of the Florida statutes in Florida; "Single Service Health Maintenance Organizations" in Texas; and "Dental Plan Organizations" as described in the Dental Plan Organization Act in New Jersey.
Like most group benefit programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, waiting periods, and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact MetLife for costs and complete details.
Like most group accident and health insurance policies, the MetLife Federal Dental Plan contains certain exclusions, limitations, waiting periods and terms for keeping coverage in force. Please contact MetLife for complete details.
Already Enrolled? Need more help?
Log in to MyBenefits It's your secure member website. When you search for a dentist, results are based on your plan information.
Or, call us at 1-800-942-0854 (TDD 888-638-4863) to use our automated system. Simply enter your personal information and hear your network spoken back to you.
Dental Providers
To confirm your patient's network, log in to www.metdental.com or call


text:
BTS Bangtan Boys STICKER and PHOTOCARD
Most likely you will be getting something like the second or third pictures
About 16~18 sheets.
I can guarantee you that everything is gorgeous!
It is printed from factories in Korea
All the stickers and photocards are factory made, NOT handmade.
This item contains about 16~18 stickers and photocards.
I will be shipping the item once the transaction is completed,
But I usually ship on wednesdays and mondays.
Please know that all of the designs are mine and
if you have already purchased from me once or twice,
I recommend you not purchase it again since the designs are
similar. But if you haven't purchased and visited my store yet,
you are welcome to visit and look around my store!
If you have any questions, please leave a message.


text:
What's Your Opinion - Which Dessert is the Best?
Lesson 1 of 4
Objective: SWBAT write an short opinion paragraph, introducing the topic, stating an opinion, supplying reasons and examples, and concluding the essay.
Big Idea: State the opinion, support it, restate the opinion - use good reasons, examples and linking words.
- OREO writing powerpoint
- Lesson vocabulary words from the Reading/Writing word wall: opinion, essay, introduction, conclusion, examples, reasons
- Set up the whiteboard
- OREO organizer worksheet
- lined paper
- construction paper to mount the paper - optional
I was able to bring in samples of Oreo cookies for my class to taste and form an opinion. I realize this is unique and many kids will not be able to taste food in class. I chose to use Oreos because the acronym follows the opinion form.
Writing opinions involves many skills, so I've picked a concrete topic and chose to have the kids write a one paragraph essay about their favorite dessert in this lesson.
My districts' second grade goal is a 5-paragraph essay, which my students will write about the topic of recess in the next lessons: Inside or Out-Organize Ideas for An Opinion Essay (Part 1 of 3), Inside or Out-Draft the Opinion Essay (Part 2 of 3), Inside or Out-Edit and Finalize Your Opinion Essay (Part 3 of 3). Composing a five-paragraph essay is the expectation from the district for the middle to end of 2nd grade. This dovetails with and builds on the Common Core State Standards' expectations for writing an opinion piece that states and restates an opinion with reasons and and examples for evidence. This is a daunting task for my students, so we'll practice with one-paragraph essays until they become more secure with the process. What we are creating in this lesson is a simpler version of a full essay lesson we'll be completing later.
Resources (4)
Let's Get Excited!
Underlined words below are lesson vocabulary words that are emphasized and written on sentence strips for my Reading & Writing word wall. I pull off the words off the wall for each lesson, helping students understand this key 'reading and writing' vocabulary can be generalized across texts and topics. The focus on acquiring and using these words is part of a shift in the Common Core Standards towards building students' academic vocabulary. My words are color coded 'pink' for literature/'blue' for reading strategies/'orange' for informational text/'yellow' for writing/'green' for all other words)
Common starting point
- "We are going to write a essay today about something that we think is the best. It's called an an 'opinion paragraph'."
- Title slide: "What do you see on the slide? - yes desserts. I'm guessing that you have an opinion about those!"
- "Our essay today will be only one paragraph. That's shorter than you're used to writing, but there are some new skills that I'm introducing."
At the beginning and end of this lesson, I made sure the kids saw the 'big picture' of what we were doing. My purpose in this lesson was to have them write a short simple opinion paragraph to practice forming opinions with reasons and examples and stating the introduction and concluding sentences.
Resources (1)
Resources (1)
Teacher's Turn
Introduce the idea of opinions
- "What is an opinion? How can you share-by describing and writing-what you think is best?" (slide 2)
- "Opinions must have reasons and examples. You have to support your opinion with good reasons and examples. Otherwise it's just a statement that's unconvincing." (slide 3-4) Talk with the kids about giving reasons and opinions.
- "I'm writing one paragraph today so I'll share an opinion, give a reason and 2 examples."
- "A good writer needs 'transitions' These are words such as 'because', 'also', and 'too'. They help the writing sounds smooth and they link up the reasons and examples." I put these linking words on the whiteboard.
Share how to write about opinions
- "Today we'll write about the kind of desserts we like. We'll be using an organizer called 'the OREO organizer'."
- I explained the acronym 'OREO' and showed the examples to the kids on the powerpoint.
- Go through slides 5-11. Here's a peek of my explanation of the acronym.
- Focus on the sample opinions in the powerpoint. I did tailor these to my kids because I know the girls like pink and 'IronMan' is a popular movie. You could change these on the powerpoint to what is popular for your students.
- Focus on distinguishing reasons from examples. We spent several minutes talking about how reasons support the opinion. There has to be a direct line of support. We also talked about how examples have to be linked to the reason.
Model how to write a paragraph
- "If I'm going to write my opinion, I need to get organized. Here's an organizer - I'll keep my phrases short and then write longer sentences in my draft." Take a look at my discussion of the organizer.
- "I'm going to pick 'oreos' as my favorite dessert."
- "I'll write an opinion in the organizer - 'the best dessert - oreos'. That's the introduction."
- "Now I need reasons and an example. 'Taste wonderful' is my reason, and 'chocolatey' is an example of how they taste."
- "Let me add a second example - 'good to dip in milk'. Could an example be that they're brown? - no because brown is not example that supports that reason."
- "Now I'll restate my opinion at the end. 'favorite dessert - oreos'. That's the conclusion.
- "Next, I need to transfer my ideas to the lined paper and make sentences. I'll add linking words to connect the opinion, reasons and examples. Watch as I do this.
- Oreos are the best dessert. They taste wonderful because they are so chocolatey. In addition, this cookie is good to dip in milk and gets soft. Oreos are definitely my favorite dessert.
- "That's my opinion paragraph about oreos. I have an opinion at the beginning, a reason with 2 examples, and then an opinion restated at the end." Take a look at the completed whiteboard that we created.
I'm purposefully keeping this task straightforward because there are a lot of underlying skills to be practiced. The kids need to be able to state and restate a clear opinion, so I've limited the topics and given a clear model. They need to have a clear reason with supporting examples. I chose food because it's more concrete and the reasons can be similar across whichever dessert they choose. Then they also need to have good examples, which, again, have to be relevant to the reason. There was a lot of discussion while I modeled and I want to keep the task simple so that we have plenty of time. My students are using transition words, writing a paragraph, indenting-all skills introduced in previous lessons.
Resources (6)
Create the organizer
Assign Task
- "Now it's your turn to pick a favorite dessert."
- "You'll state your opinion, give a reason why you like it with 2 good examples. You'll need to use good linking words to pull the reasons and examples together."
- "Make sure to restate your opinion at the end."
Students fill out the organizer:
- Pass out the worksheets.
- "Let's take a minutes and think about how we state opinions. What are some words we can start the sentence with?" They came up these opinion starters that I put on the whiteboard.
- Students should pick one a favorite dessert and give a reason and 2 examples of why they like it. They can pick one of the opinion 'starters' from the whiteboard.
- Let students work and encourage them to use good examples.
- When they're done, they can write out the essay on the lined paper.
- This is what one of my student's completed organizer looked like.
This was fairly easy for my kids. They are used to writing longer essays, so writing ideas for only one paragraph did not take them very long. They had LOTS of ideas about favorite desserts. I limited them to a choice of cupcake or ice cream (what was on the powerpoint) because this is practice for a longer writing sample.
Resources (2)
Resources (2)
Write the paper
Write the paper
- "Now you'll use your organizer to write a paragraph."
- Let the students write the paper from their organizer. Encourage them to use full sentences and avoid repeated words. (it is, it is, it is)
- I did help with vocabulary by putting words on the whiteboard that the students needed help with.
- This is what one student's organizer and paragraph looked like and a clearer picture of their completed paragraph.
At this point, the students are actually writing opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect the opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section (W.2.1) The opinion piece that they create will have all of the pieces that make for a great sample piece - introduction, conclusion, clear opinion statement and support for that opinion. Although I have simplified this down into a one paragraph essay about dessert, the kids are ultimately learning how to create a powerful piece of writing that will be molded into longer pieces about more controversial topics in future grades.
Mounting the paragraph
- My kids really wanted to use construction paper to make the dessert and then glue their paragraph on the picture. They kept is simple and it didn't take much time. Here's a picture of them cutting and the organizer and picture of one of my students.
- I reminded them that our next few lessons would encompass writing a 5 paragraph essay of their own opinions about another topic.
- Here's what it looked like when I was reviewing this lesson and previewing the next few lessons.
Scaffolding and Special Education: This lesson could be scaffolded down, depending on student ability. These writing lessons are typically harder for students with academic challenges. The organizer should be helpful for them to get their ideas on paper, but be sure to write words on the board or their desk slate to help with spelling. You may need to prompt ideas with them - 'Why do you like ice cream?' 'How does it taste?' to help them with reasons and examples. Once the organizer is done, it should be easier for them to construct a paragraph, which will be edited later.


text:
Since 1938, the General Surgery Residency Program has long been known for providing a hospitable and nurturing environment, and camaraderie between the residents and attending staff. Residents in our program must work well with each other and are expected to contribute at conferences.
The Department of General Surgery's goal is to provide an outstanding educational experience for our surgical residents. Surgical volume has always been excellent, with our chief residents' case volume regularly exceeding 90 percent nationally. The variety of cases also is excellent. We offer a strong core experience in both ambulatory and inpatient surgery. Our busy thoracic service, burn unit, colorectal experiences, and designation as a Level I Trauma Center ensure a diverse case mix. UPMC Mercy has an operating room designed for advanced endovascular surgery, a state-of-the-art endoscopy simulator, and on-campus facilities for resident training in endosopy, microvascular surgery, and laparoscopy.
Our program has a 5-year accreditation with commendation through October 2014. Following the implementation of the Next Accreditation System, our review cycle was extended until October 2016.
Annual Residency Program Photo - 2015-2016:
UPMC Mercy General Surgery Residency ProgramDepartment of SurgeryUPMC Mercy1400 Locust StreetPittsburgh, PA 15219Kurt R. Stahlfeld, M.D.,Program Director412-232-8097
Danielle McKeever,Graduate Medical Education Department Manager
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


text:
- Save 10% each on Qualifying items offered by ACCESSORIESMASTERS when you purchase 2 or more. Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Acm Rich Leather Soft Case For Blackberry Z3 Mobile Handpouch Cover Carry White
Pay on Delivery (Cash/Card) eligible
What is this?
Pay on Delivery (POD) includes Cash on Delivery (COD) as well as Debit card / Credit card / Net banking payments at your doorstep.
- Handpouch Case
- Leather Pouch Case
- Soft Protective Case
- Acm Branded
Special offers and product promotions
Have a question?
Find answers in product info, Q&As, reviews
Product description
Keep Your Mobile Safe In Rich Premium Style In The Leather Soft Pouch Case For Your Mobile.Ultimate Protection For Your Mobile.Protect Your Mobile'S Screen From Harm Without Impacting It'S Super Slim Profile. Protect The Front Of Your Mobile From Scratches, Scrapes And Front-On Impacts With The Cover.This Cover Takes Your Device Inside It Fully. This Means That The Most Important Part Of The Phone, The Screen, Is Protected From Harm Without The Added Thickness And Weight Normally Associated With Other Cases.It Is Designed Specifically For Use With The Mobile, So Offers A Perfect Fit, And Does Not Impede The Use Of Any Of The Functions Such As The Power And Volume Buttons, Headphone And Charging Ports, Or Front And Rear Cameras.Made From High Quality Synthetic Leather Materials, This Cover Will Keep Your Mobile'S Screen Looking Good As New. The Cover Is Tough Enough To Withstand Day-To-Day Punishment Without Blemishing, So Both Your Phone And Cover Will Stay Looking Sharp For Long.This Is Handpouch As Described And Not Flip Cover And It Is Open Pouch Which Is Carried In Hand.
Customer reviews
|5 star (0%)
|4 star (0%)
|3 star (0%)
|2 star (0%)
|1 star (0%)


text:
Access to Travel
Mode of Transportation:
Transportation services are provided by large cars and small vans. Passengers using wheelchairs must transfer to the vehicle seat, and wheelchairs are carried as baggage.
Cambie, Dunbar and Vancouver.
Provides "through the door" assistance, accompaniment and transportation services for seniors and persons with disabilities to appointments, shopping, social events, vacations, and to stations and airports with assistance through to gate departure.


text:
Quote Sheet
Chicago Fire vs. Houston Dynamo
BBVA Compass Stadium – Houston, Texas – July 27, 2013
Frank Klopas, Chicago Fire Head Coach
Thoughts on the match
"We talked about our ability now in this stretch and to be able to get points on the road. You're playing against a very good team, difficult place, it's not easy here, but in the second half I felt that both teams, we had some chances, but I felt also late in the game both teams had some quality looks. The goalkeepers came out big. For us, I think, on the road, we showed a lot of character, but also, from our keeper Paolo [Tornaghi], he needed those saves to come up big and he did, but also I though Tally did too with some of the chances we had."
What has sparked the change within the team
"Definitely different confidence within the team. I think the mentality is different, the start was definitely tough for us. Losing Arne Friedrich right before our first game wasn't easy, so I needed a guy to replace. I feel that with additions of Mike Magee and [Bakary Soumaré] and the results we've gotten, it's a different mentality within the group. There is a lot of confidence, so it's a tough stretch for us right now, I mean second half of the season, you're playing a lot of teams within your own conference and it's going to be tight. There is so much parity within the league, I think what we didn't do in the first half of the season we have to do much better the second half on the road, pick up points and win at home. This was a good start and we have to regroup now. We have a tough away game against Philadelphia next week, so it doesn't get any easier."
On the impact of Mike Magee
"He's got a lot of quality and he's a smart player, but he does a lot of little things also besides scoring that help the team out. He's been fantastic for us, so has [Bakary Soumaré]. I just think as a team we're in a different place right now and we have a lot to play for. Both of those additions have been big, but I think everyone else has stepped up and I think we have everyone healthy right now and I think that is a positive thing for the team."
Update on the injury to Alex
"He got a knock, it happened in the game on the ankle, he came out. He was having a good game in the middle, but listen it's all about the team and things like that happen and guys have to be able to get in the game and help and that's what a team is for. You have to rely on everyone and the guys that came in Danny [Paladini] and Logan [Pause] came in and I felt left it all on the field, and that's what you want and ask for."
Paolo Tornaghi, Chicago Fire Goalkeeper
Thoughts on the match
"It's good for us coming here. I think the environment here is very difficult to play [in], so we are happy. All the statistics say that [Houston] is tough and we did our best and we are going home with a point."
Game plan coming into the match
"Well we knew that this team is very strong in statistics and putting [the ball in] the box and try to win the first, the second, the third ball. I think to challenge, to fight, and it's what we tried to do and I think we did well, so that's why we had the goal and a good game."
Importance of this match in the standings
"It's a crucial moment of the season. We have to come back from another positive position in the standings, so we have to keep going and maybe in one month, be in the right spot that we have to be in the playoffs."
Mike Magee, Chicago Fire Forward
Thoughts on the match
"It's huge, especially playing in Houston, which is close to impossible to get any points in and in the fashion that we did it, I thought was pretty good. We obviously give up a goal again, but to fight back and even get a chance or two to get the win, that is a great point."
Getting the equalizer so quickly
"It is always important to get the equalizer. It is good to get it quick because they're a team that tends to, you know, once they get one, they start pounding on you. They're not a team that scores one and sits back, so it had the potential to be a very long end of the game, so to get the one back quick is massive."
Importance of the result going forward
"It's just we're hard to beat. No matter what happens it's a big step for us. We have been kind of looking for a result like this. We have beaten some teams that aren't in the playoff hunt and we lost to Kansas City, we barely tie Portland, so to come into Houston and get a point like this is definitely a statement."
Houston Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear
Thoughts on the match
"A little bit of a frustrating night. Scored a great goal then gave up a softie and then we had some chances to go back ahead and it didn't happen. [We were] looking at three [points], we get one, but I can't fault the guys' effort."
The importance of this match
"This game was important. I say this time and time again, but maybe people don't take me seriously: every game for me is a big game. I don't have to say 'well this is a big game because of this, because of that.' All these underlying themes and goals; the main goal will always be to win the game. I know what New England did tonight, I know what the other teams did, I know where we're at we have game in hand, et cetera. You want to win three points no matter if it's home, if it's Columbus, or New England or even tonight against Chicago. The aim is always to get three [points]. We want to be higher than where we are in the conference and we know it's going to take wins to do that."
On Cam Weaver's performance
"I thought he was good. I thought he was due for a goal. He's had his chances along the way, and I'm sure he's frustrated at times but he was a big part of what we were trying to do tonight. We were trying to get some balls wide, get balls in the box, and I think he had clear off the line in a corner kick. He had a kick in the first half….held the ball well for us, put himself in the right spot for his goal. Happy for him. He works hard everyday. I think he works on his finishing. He wants to be on the field. He wants to make a positive impact, and tonight I'm happy for him."
On the physicality of the match
"I just think there was a lot of stoppages. I mean they never really got a good flow in the first-half. Obviously as the game got tied, there was time wasting as we've seen before and it slows the game down. But, what can you do? I didn't think it was overly physical, I thought. I think every game is physical. I don't think any game in MLS is over the top. I don't think any team comes out and is dirty. I think teams try and play the right way, try to play physical. It was just two teams tonight. So, just pretty much a standard game for me."
Houston Dynamo forward Cam Weaver
Thoughts on the match
"Disappointed with only getting one point, I think we the amount of chances we had we definitely should be getting three points. That's the way I feel right now."
On getting the goal
"I think it's been a while, so I'm definitely happy to get that goal. I had a few chances tonight, and I happened to get one. It would've been a lot nicer in a victory, but hopefully that's one of more to come."
Houston Dynamo defender Bobby Boswell
Thoughts on the match
"It was frustrating. You work so hard to get a goal and then you kind of give up a softie. We just didn't finish a lot of our other chances. We had one called back that probably shouldn't have been, but sometimes that's how your night goes. I mean nothing really goes your way, so good for Cam, happy for him, he's worked so hard to get to where he is and for him to score hopefully that's a sign of things to come."
On their place in the standings
"We were aware coming into the game what was going on. We always kind of look at it throughout the year. I've said it from the beginning, last year was just a matter of one point, I think. So, we understand that. It just went against us last night. From the game Wednesday, to the field, to the refs on one call, to us shooting ourselves in the foot, so a lot to be learned, a lot from ourselves on the field and some of our guys off the field too you know. But, like I said it comes down to the guys on the field getting the job done. I mentioned all those other things, but at the end of the day it comes down to the eleven guys that are out there playing. We had our chances. A tie is not the worst thing, but obviously we wanted a win. But, we can't really harp on it too much. We're going to look at what we did on the goal and talk about some communication issues, but we've got to get ready for Columbus now."
Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall
Thoughts on the match
"Obviously fairly disappointed. It's a game we should win. It's a game we can win. Obviously to give up a goal right after you score one, I think it comes down to a mental lapse, and we need to do a better job defensively of holding onto the lead. And it starts once they kick the ball off and it didn't take them long to get an equalizer. So, it's very disappointing to us.
I don't think anything was going against us that doesn't happen in any other game. Fouls go both ways and maybe it's offside, maybe it's onside, it doesn't matter. Those things happen every single game."


text:
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute Center for Sexual Health of New York (LVRI-NY)
LVRI-NY addresses a woman's personal sexual needs through compassionate and comprehensive medical care. It recognizes that few women are aware that through advanced laser surgical techniques they can dramatically improve their sexual pleasure and increase their self-esteem.
What is Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation ® (LVR)?
Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation®, Designer Laser Vaginoplasty® and Laser Reduction Labiaplasty are pioneering surgical procedures designed solely to meet the patient's individual physical and sexual needs. These custom, designed gynecological laser surgeries effectively restructure vaginal size, increase vaginal muscle tone and strength and correct stress incontinence. Robert Jason, MD, FACOG, physically reforms the vaginal area to make intercourse more pleasurable for a woman and her partner.
Meet Dr. Jason, the most experienced LVR surgeon on the East Coast and is considered by many the top labiaplasty ny has to offer. Check out the before and after gallery then call to schedule your consultation.
Dr. Jason with Dr. Marco Pelosi at the International Society of Cosmetic Gynecology, pre Congress of the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery where he was the 2015 winner for Best Aesthetic Result for the Category "Best Labiaplasty" at their recent conference in New Orleans.


text:
One of my teaching duties at The University of Texas' McCombs School of Business is to help oil company executives learn how to develop positive, productive relationships with "external stakeholders" -- governments, NGOs, neighbors, etc. A key lesson in that work is that the company's relationship with elected government officials is particularly fraught with risk. Business people can never fully trust an elected politician, no matter how close an ally he or she seems to be, because when the politician's electoral interests diverge from shared policy goals, the former almost always trump the latter.
The recent history of the Keystone pipeline is a perfect example of this lesson.
As proposed, the Keystone pipeline would provide added capacity for the transport of oil from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to refineries in the United States, including Texas. Because the pipeline crosses an international border, its construction requires the approval of the Department of State.
Environmentalists and most Democrats oppose the pipeline in large part because they oppose the development of the oil sands, which is a particularly pollution- and energy-intensive way to produce oil. Industry, unions and most Republicans, on the other hand, support the pipeline for economic and energy security reasons. On its face, the decision whether to approve the pipeline looks like so many other modern energy policy conflicts, pitting pro-development Republicans against pro-environment Democrats. However, for the Administration the decision pits two of its core constituencies--unions and environmentalists--against one another. Presumably, it is that political conundrum that led President Obama last fall to postpone the decision until after the 2012 presidential election.
At the time of the president's decision, the pipeline was still undergoing an environmental review, one that had been delayed by opposition to the pipeline in the State of Nebraska. The pipeline was to pass over a sensitive aquifer in state's Sandhills region. The Republican governor of Nebraska and the state's Republican-dominated legislature opposed the route for that reason. Last November, the State and the pipeline's sponsor, TransCanada Corporation, agreed upon a new route around the sensitive aquifer. That new route has yet to undergo any formal environmental review.
Despite all this controversy, TransCanada had good reason to be optimistic about the pipeline's prospects. TransCanada knew that the Obama administration had already staked out a position to the right of most Democrats on several energy issues. For example, the administration had supported the lifting of the moratorium on offshore oil drilling, and had approved new offshore oil and gas development over the objections of environmentalists and Democrats in Congress. According to e-mail messages obtained by the environmental group Friends of the Earth, key State Department officials were coaching TransCanada on how to navigate the State Department approval process, and TransCanada's chief lobbyist had close ties to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
There was good reason to expect that the pipeline might be approved after the election, particularly given the resolution of the Nebraska aquifer issue.
However, Republicans in Congress saw the postponement of the decision as a political opportunity. Last December, they inserted a provision requiring the President to make a decision about the pipeline within 60 days into an unrelated piece of legislation. Facing this deadline, the President rejected the pipeline, arguing that the deadline did not give the Administration sufficient time to conduct the necessary environmental, safety and other reviews. Given recent high-profile pipeline leaks in the news, his argument may resonate with most voters.
For project supporters, the unsuccessful conclusion of the permitting process represents a significant setback, one that needn't have come to pass. Had Congress not forced the administration's hand, the review process would have continued through 2012, building on the work done to date while addressing the issues raised by the new route in Nebraska. Instead, any new attempt to secure approval for the pipeline must start over at the beginning.
And so, politics trumps policy again. It's not that Republicans would prefer to kill the pipeline; to the contrary, they would prefer that a Republican president approve it in 2013. The problem, from TransCanada's point of view, is that we don't know now who will win in November. By fast-tracking the approval process, Republicans may score political points, but they have also handed a victory to the project's opponents, whose environmental case against the pipeline (as distinguished from oil sands production) was always a fairly weak one.


text:
Removal of lead ions from acid aqueous solutions and acid mine drainage using zeolite bearing tuff
Journal title
Archives of Environmental Protection
Publication authors
adsorption ; acid mine drainage ; zeolite bearing tuff ; lead ions ; equilibrium studies ; Sasa mine
Divisions of PAS
Instructions for authors [EN]

Instructions for Authors

Archives of Environmental Protection is a quarterly published jointly by the Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Committee of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Thanks to the cooperation with outstanding scientists from all over the world we are able to provide our readers with carefully selected, most interesting and most valuable texts, presenting the latest state of research in the field of engineering and environmental protection.

Scope

The Journal principally accepts for publication original research papers covering such topics as:

Air quality, air pollution prevention and treatment;

Wastewater treatment and utilization;

Soil protection and remediation;

Hydrology and water quality, water treatment;

Waste management;

Ecosystem restoration, toxicology and sustainability;

Transformations and transport of organic pollutants in the environment;

Transformations and transport of inorganic pollutants in the environment;

Measurement techniques used in environmental engineering and monitoring;

Other topics directly related to environmental engineering and environment protection.

The Journal accepts also authoritative and critical reviews of the current state of knowledge in the topic directly relating to the environment protection.
 If unsure whether the article is within the scope of the Journal, please send an abstract via email to: email@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com

Preparation of the manuscript

The following are the requirements for manuscripts submitted for publication:

The manuscript (with illustrations, tables, abstract and references) should not exceed 20 pages. In case the manuscript exceeds the required number of pages, we suggest contacting the Editor.

The manuscript should be written in English.

The manuscript ought to be submitted in doc or docx format in three files:

text.doc – file containing the entire text, without title, keywords, authors names and affiliations

figures.doc – file containing illustrations with legends o tables.doc – file containing tables with legends.

The text should be prepared in A4 format, 2.5 cm margins, 1.5 spaced, preferable using Time New Roman font with no less than 12 point. The text should be divided into sections and subsections according to general rules of manuscript editing. The proposed place of tables and figures insertion should be marked in the text.

Legends in the figures should be concise and legible, using a proper font size so as to maintain their legibility after decreasing the font size. Please avoid using descriptions in figures, these should be used in legends or in the text of the article. Figures should be placed without the box. Legends should be placed under the figure and also without box.

Tables should always be divided into columns. When there are many results presented in the table it should also be divided into lines.

References should be cited in the text of an article by providing the name and publication year in brackets, e.g. (Nowak 2004). When a cited paper has two authors, both surnames connected with the word "and" should be provided, e.g. (Nowak and Kowalski 2004). When a cited paper has more than one author, surname of its first author, abbreviation 'et al.' and publication year should be provided, e.g. (Kowalski et al. 2004). When there are more than two publications cited in one place they should be divided with coma, e.g. (Nowak 2004, Nowak and Kowalski 2004, Kowalski et al. 2004). Internet sources should be cited like other texts - providing the name and publication year in brackets.

References should be listed at the end of the article ordered alphabetically by surname of the first author. References should be made according to the following rules:

Journal:

Surnames and initials, publication year in brackets, title of the article, journal name in italics, volume, number, pages. For example:
 Nowak, S.W., Smith, A.J. & Taylor, K.T. (2006). Title of article, Journal Name, 10, 2, pp. 93–98. o Book:
 Surnames and initials, publication year in brackets, title in italics, publisher, place, publishing year. For example:
 Kraszewski, J. & Kinecki, K. (2006). Title of book, Work & Sudies, Zabrze 2006.

Edited book:

Surnames and initials of text authors, publishing year in brackets, title of cited chapter, 'in:', title of the book in intalics, surnames and initials of editor(s), '(Ed)'/'(Eds)", publisher and place, pages. For example:
 Reynor,.J. & Taylor, K.T. (2006). Title of chapter, in: Title of the cited book, Kaźmierski, I. & Jasiński, C. (Eds.). Zabrze 2011.

Internet sources:

Surnames and initials or the name of the institution which published the text, publication year in brackets, title , website address, accessed on - in brackets. For example:
 Kowalski, M. (2010). Title, (http://www.krakow.pios.gov.pl/publikacje/2009/(03.12.2014)) o Patents:
 Orszulik, E. (2009) Palenisko fluidalne, Patent polski: nr PL20070383311 20070910 z 16 marca 2009.
 Smith, I.M. (1988). U.S. Patent No. 123,445. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Materials published in language other than English:

Titles of cited materials should be translated into English. Information of the language the materials were published in should be provided at the end. For example:
 Nowak, S.W. & Taylor, K.T. (2006). Title of article, Journal Name, 10, 2, pp. 93–98 (in
 Polish)
 Not more than 30 references should be cited in the original research paper.

Submission of the manuscript

By submitting the manuscript Author(s) warrant(s) that the article has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal. Authors claim responsibility and liability for the submitted article. The manuscripts should be submitted on-line using the Editorial System available at http://www.editorialsystem.com/aep. Authors are asked to propose at least 4 potential reviewers, including 2 from abroad, together with their e- mail addresses. The journal does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges.

Review Process

All the submitted articles are assessed by the Editorial Board. If positively assessed by at least two editors, Editor in Chief, along with department editors selects two independent reviewers from recognized authorities in the discipline. Reviewers receive a text of the article (without personal data of Authors) and review forms applicable in the journal. In justified cases, reviewers receive additional questions regarding the article. Review process usually lasts from 1 to 4 months.
 After completion of the review process Authors are informed of the results and - if both reviews are positive - asked to correct the text according to reviewers' comments. Next, the revised work is verified by the editorial staff for factual and editorial content.

Acceptance of the manuscript

The manuscript is accepted for publication on grounds of the opinions of independent reviewers and approval of Editorial Board. Authors are informed about the decision and also asked to pay processing charges and to send completed declaration of the transfer of copyright to the editorial office.
 Proofreading and Author Correction
 All articles published in the Archives of Environmental Protection go through professional proofreading process. If there are too many language errors that prevent understanding of the text, the article is sent back to Authors with a request to correct the indicated fragments or - in extreme cases – to re-translate the text.
 After proofreading the manuscript is prepared for publishing. The final stage of the publishing process is Author correction. Authors receive a page proof copy of the article with a request to make final corrections.

Article publication charges

The publication fee of an article in the Journal is:
 • 20 EUR/80 zł per page (black and white or in gray scale)
 • 30 EUR/120 zł per page (color)

Payments in Polish zlotys - Bank BGK Account no.: 20 1130 1091 0003 9111 7820 0001,
 Payments in Euros - Bank BGK Account no.: 20 1130 1091 0003 9111 7820 0001, IBAN: PL 20 1130 1091 0003 9111 7820 0001, SWIFT: GOSKPLPW.

Authors are kindly requested to inform the editorial office of making payment for the publication, as well as to send all necessary data for issuing an invoice.

ISSN 2083-4772 ; eISSN 2083-4810


text:
Cory Remekun took advantage of a rare opportunity Monday night.
Remekun, known mostly for his defensive prowess, scored a career-high 15 points and Cody Ellis added 13 to lead Saint Louis to a 60-46 win over No. 20 New Mexico in nonconference play.
Mike McCall Jr. chipped in with 12 points for Saint Louis (10-3), which won its seventh in a row _ its longest streak since winning eight straight from Feb. 12-March 13, 2003 _ and moved to 10-1 at home.
Kendall Williams led New Mexico (13-2) with 15 points. Alex Kirk added 13 points and eight rebounds.
New Mexico coach Steve Alford was ejected for the first time in his 22-year coaching career after receiving back-to-back technical fouls with 9:26 remaining.
Remekun, who came in averaging 6.2 points, provided a much-needed offensive boost. He scored 10 points in the first 18:22 and played key roles in early runs of 12-0 and 11-2 that staked the Billikens to a 33-13 lead at the break.
Saint Louis interim coach Jim Crews enjoyed seeing the hard-working Remekun do some damage on the offensive end for a change.
Remekun converted off a pass from Jordair Jett to push the lead to 20-10 midway through the half. He then added a pair of baskets from close range before scoring off an offensive rebound to close out the first-half scoring.
Saint Louis, which scored 30 points off turnovers, used a lock-down defensive effort to roll out to a 31-12 lead.
New Mexico did not have a field goal over the final 6:57 of the opening half. The Lobos missed 9 of their first 12 shots. Their first-half total of 13 points was their lowest since March 18, 2005 when they trailed Villanova 34-11 at the break in the NCAA tournament.
The Lobos, who committed a season-high 21 turnovers, turned the ball over 15 times on their first 28 possessions.
Alford was surprised that his team came out so flat after an impressive 55-54 win at then-No.8 Cincinnati on Thursday.
New Mexico managed to make a run in the second half. The Lobos pulled to 38-29 on a jumper by Williams with 13:29 left, but the Billikens responded with a 14-2 run to regain control.
The Lobos beat Saint Louis 64-60 in a New Year's Eve meeting last season in Albuquerque.
The Billikens, who trailed 3-0, had led from start to finish in their previous three contests. The have won their last five games by a combined 101 points.
Saint Louis held a 32-16 advantage in the paint.


text:
Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow has shared her best money-saving tips with fans to help them through financial hard times.
The Iron Man star has dedicated the latest issue of her Goop.com lifestyle newsletter to solving money problems and she shares a website she has used to help organize her own finances.
Paltrow also includes an interview with the website's founder and the feature contains tips such as "check your credit report", "attack your debt" and "avoid late payments".
In an accompanying post, she writes, "We found this really cool website/money managing program called LearnVest that helps us think about and organize our money..."


text:
Our daughter, Carole, and our daughters-in-law, Julie and Denise, celebrated their birthday March 9.
Our daughter, Carole, and our daughters-in-law, Julie and Denise, celebrated their birthday March 9. Since their birthdays fall on the same day they usually celebrate together. I hope they had fun.
It's been an exciting week. One lady called to tell me about her experiences going out west and the excitement of seeing where "Bonanza" was filmed. She recalled those incidents because she had read my recent columns and thought I might like to hear about her experiences.
She was right. She told me in detail how much she learned from her trips out west and how she looks forward to reading my columns. I enjoy all my phone calls, but her's was one of the more enjoyable.
I received another call asking me if there was a possibility of asking a favor concerning the cookbook that comes out in The Courier every Easter Sunday. I said all I could do was try. Since her request is such a good one, I thought I could give it a shot, and if it's too late for this year, perhaps next year it might be feasible to put her suggestion into practice.
This particular reader really enjoys the cookbook, but has one complaint. There are recipes for diabetics, but she thinks perhaps there should be more. What she envisions are recipes that have a more local flavor. She would like to see recipes that are simple and fast, using local and easy-to-find ingredients, suitable for diabetics. Some of the recipes use too many ingredients, including some the readers never heard of, and are too time-consuming for the average cook to prepare.
She would like to see an entire section of diabetic recipes, and since there are so many diabetics in the area, she thinks it would serve a double purpose: help the diabetic population and make the recipe book useful for more people.
She says it's just a suggestion, but I personally think it's a good one. There are many diabetics in our area. I've looked at diabetic cookbooks and they're Greek to me. I couldn't use one if I tried. The ingredients are not local, and some of them I've never heard of. I like simple-to-understand and simple-to-make dishes. I guess I'm what could be referred to as a lazy cook. I seldom measure anything unless I'm following a recipe, but I cook a lot by not measuring and just using a little of this and a pinch of that. My meals are almost always tasty, but they're far from diabetic fare.
My kind of cooking might be why we could use a lot of local diabetic recipes. We eat and eat and eat and everything is either fattening or sweet. It's sinful, I'm telling you. I should be ashamed of myself, but it's hard to change a lifetime of bad habits.
All I'm asking on behalf of this reader, is for the sponsors of the cookbook that is so popular every Easter, and those who are in the know about diabetic recipes give the readers of the recipe book more local diabetic recipes that are simple to make with easy-to-find ingredients.
I didn't gain weight until late in life. When I was a child, Mama always prepared a lot of fresh veggies for our meals. The only meat we had on weekdays was salt meat to flavor our food. On Sundays we enjoyed chicken stew or chicken gumbo and rice. Occasionally Mama would cook a steak. I think the gravy she was great at making when she cooked steak is now called au jus gravy, but way back then I'd never heard the term.
Today, we have so many choices that we tend to overeat. As we overeat we pack the weight on. Then we try to diet. It's much easier to put it on than take it off. I have a feeling that many non-diabetics would prepare those special recipes if they resembled the good food we ate many years ago when we ate "healthy." Or, could it have been that we didn't eat nearly as much as we do now?
Irene C. Michel, a native of Terrebonne Parish, is a columnist for The Courier and Daily Comet. She can be reached at 876-3252 or email@example.com.


text:
Hey fellow android fans. I just found this service called Qvivo and I thought I would share it with you.
Good article about it here http://lifehacker.com/5977689/access-your-media-from-the-cloud-on-any-device-with-qvivo
Basically it lets you upload (or match) all your movies , music etc.
Here's a list of the supported file types:
Video files: avi, flv, m4v, mkv, mov, mp4, mpg, rm, and wmv.
Music files: aac, aif, flac, m4a, mp3, and wav.
It also uses a similar hash match like dropbox where if someone uploaded a identical file, it will not re-upload it, it will just add that movie or song to your library.
On pc:


text:
Division of Environmental Biology
Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB)
|Kendra McLauchlan
|(703) 292-2217
|Mary Beth (Betsy) Von Holle
|(703) 292-4974
PROGRAM GUIDELINESSolicitation 17-513
Important Information for Proposers
ATTENTION: Proposers using the Collaborators and Other Affiliations template for more than 10 senior project personnel will encounter proposal print preview issues. Please see the Collaborators and Other Affiliations Information website for updated guidance.
A revised version of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) (NSF 18-1), is effective for proposals submitted, or due, on or after January 29, 2018. Please be advised that, depending on the specified due date, the guidelines contained in NSF 18-1 may apply to proposals submitted in response to this funding opportunity.
Waiting for New Publication
The Long Term Research in Environmental Biology (LTREB) Program supports the generation of extended time series of data to address important questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science. Research areas include, but are not limited to, the effects of natural selection or other evolutionary processes on populations, communities, or ecosystems; the effects of interspecific interactions that vary over time and space; population or community dynamics for organisms that have extended life spans and long turnover times; feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes; pools of materials such as nutrients in soils that turn over at intermediate to longer time scales; and external forcing functions such as climatic cycles that operate over long return intervals.
The Program intends to support decadal projects. Funding for an initial, 5-year period requires submission of a preliminary proposal and, if invited, submission of a full proposal that includes a 15-page project description. Proposals for the second five years of support (renewal proposals) are limited to a ten-page project description and do not require a preliminary proposal.
Continuation of an LTREB project beyond an initial ten year award will require submission of a new preliminary proposal that presents a new decadal research plan.
Successful LTREB proposals address three essential components:
A Decadal Research Plan that clearly articulates important questions that cannot be addressed with data that have already been collected, but could be answered if ten additional years of data were collected. This plan is not a research timeline or management plan. It is a concise justification for ten years of support in order to advance understanding of key concepts, questions, or theories in environmental biology.
Core Data: LTREB proposals require that the author has studied a particular phenomenon or process for at least six years up to the present and for long enough to generate a contemporary time series that contains at least six data points. These data constitute Core Data on which the proposed project is based. Analysis of these data should generate new questions, on the same phenomena or processes, that cannot be answered with the existing core data, require ten years of additional data to be answered, and that therefore provide the focus of the LTREB project. Requirements for core data are described in more detail in the solicitation. Please read these carefully.
A Plan for Data Management and Dissemination that details information management and plans for data sharing with the broader research community and the interested public. Data from long-term research projects have value beyond the peer-reviewed and other publications generated by the investigators collecting the data.
Specific review criteria for LTREB proposals and renewals are explained in Section VI of the current program solicitation. Prospective applicants are advised to read this solicitation carefully.
All proposals submitted to the LTREB program are co-reviewed by participating Clusters in the Division of Environmental Biology: Ecosystem Science, Population and Community Ecology, and Evolutionary Processes. Proposals must address topics supported by these programs. Researchers who are uncertain about the suitability of their project for the LTREB Program are encouraged to contact the cognizant Program Officer.
The Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (IOS) no longer accepts proposals submitted to the LTREB solicitation. Long-term projects that address questions of a) development, mechanisms, adaptive value, or evolutionary history of behavior, b) mechanisms and processes mediating antagonistic and beneficial symbioses, c) growth, development, stress adaptation mechanisms, energetics and metabolism, or other physiological processes, and d) structural and physiological traits that underlie organisms' capacities to live in various environments will no longer be supported through LTREB. Core IOS programs supporting all of these areas will entertain proposals based on long-term data http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503623&org=IOS&from=home.
What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)
Map of Recent Awards Made Through This Program


text:
As much as I dislike advertising when it interrupts my day-to-day life I recognise that it is an inevitable part of life. When I'm watching TV I don't mind when ads appear between shows (and in fact I resent it when they don't as it doesn't give me time to go and do something I need to do) but I fiercely resent it when it is inserted within the show, especially movies. I particular resent ads that are placed at points in the program other than when the change of scene makes it obvious that the ad should have been placed there.
So, anyway, I dislike ads but I live with them. This policy has now spilled over into my blogs, including this one. In the past I have half-heartedly inserted an ad in the left column of this blog and another one, and have not, until yesterday, done anything to find out how successful (or not) the ad has been.
My lack of follow-up has been for a number of reasons:
- My general dislike of advertising
- My inablility to keep track of the changes in affiliate websites and who is responsible for which advertising company
- My inability to remember ids and passwords once I do find the website responsible
- My feeling of despair when I do get into the website responsible
Advertising for Ancestry, GenesReunited and the Origins Network are all controlled by a thing called Commission Junction. Whenever I manage to find and log into this website it has seemed overwhelmingly impossible, as the first thing it shows me as a default is the first page of a long list of advertisers (mostly in the States) that have no relevance to me whatsoever. Finding advertisers I am interested in has been equally difficult. I take one look and then I run away and do something else instead.
World Vital Records has changed from whoever it used to be to the Google Affiliate Network. I' d never gotten around to doing what I had to do to move to this new mob. Then there is Google Adsense – all those ads you see down the side of the page, and elsewhere. And Google Adwords. And Amazon Associates….
Yesterday I spent a large chunk of the day sorting it all out. It seems I used to have Google Adsense ads but stopped a few months ago. I bit the bullet and signed up for Google Adwords for my business website. I found an ad I liked for the Origins Network and put that in a couple of places. I found a plugin for WordPress, the software that brings you this blog, that will insert an ad in old posts. An example of that ad appears below (in theory, Google ads don't appear immediately).
It seems the secret to Commission Junction is to select the By Relationship tab, and so I just see the three companies I have relationships with, namely Ancestry, GenesReunited and the Origins Network, instead of the thousands I don't want a relationship with. Why didn't I see that before???! Here are some ads from each of these:
Aren't they pretty? And one for World Vital Records:
Hmm, not what I was expecting. Unfortunately they don't show you the ad, there's just a description, although perhaps that depends on which browser I'm using. How about this one?
It's a different way to go, sure. I've also had a look at the affiliate program for FindMyPast, the UK company, but it seems too much hassle for little benefit. They use a different company called Affiliate Window and want me to pay £5 just to join, and they only make payments when my account reaches £100. I don't expect that I will ever get to this level so the whole thing seems pointless.
Amazon Associates controls the commission you get if clicking on a picture of a book in your library in LibraryThing takes the reader to Amazon and they buy the book. I have never earned any money this way, but the system is there.
So, dear reader, you will see more ads than you used to. In the current economic climate (don't you get sick of reading that phrase, and others like it) I need to consider alternate streams of income, although "stream" is an unrealistically optimistic word. Trickle, perhaps. I hope they are not intrusive, and I hope you will let me know if you think they are.
Here is an example from Google Adsense. I will be interested to see what the ad is.